Cumberland County DA to challenge death-penalty reprieve granted by governor
CARLISLE -- Gov. Tom Wolf's moratorium on the death penalty has already been challenged in the higher court, and Cumberland County's district attorney may be joining the fight.
On the day that Wolf issued a temporary reprieve of the pending execution of convicted Carlisle killer Antyane Robinson, Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed said he will either file his own challenge, or he will see if he can join the one already pending in the state Supreme Court, which was filed out of Philadelphia County.
"Our position is it's an abuse of power by the governor," Freed said. "It's been challenged and the Supreme Court is considering it."
Robinson was convicted in 1997 of shooting and killing Rashawn Bass, 22, of Susquehanna Township. Bass was the new boyfriend of Robinson's ex-girlfriend, Tara Hodge, whom Robinson shot in the head in the same incident. Hodge, however, survived the shooting.
Freed argued there is nothing about this case that warrants a reprieve.
"It's been issued because (Wolf) doesn't like the death penalty," Freed said.
The challenge currently pending in the state Supreme Court revolves around condemned prisoner Terrance Williams, who had been scheduled for execution in March for the tire-iron beating death of another Philadelphia man more than 30 years ago. Williams' case was the first reprieve granted by Wolf.
Also, York County District Attorney Tom Kearney has asked Wolf to allow the execution Hubert L. Michael Jr., who was convicted of kidnapping and murdering 16-year-old Trista Eng in 1993.
Jeff Sheridan, press secretary for Gov. Wolf, countered Freed's argument and said the temporary reprieves, now granted to five inmates, have nothing to do with the governor having sympathy for anyone on death row.
"They have been convicted of heinous crimes and should be held accountable and receive the harshest penalties," Sheridan said. "The governor's sympathies lie with the victims' families."
But he said the death-penalty system is flawed, and the reprieves have been granted until the bipartisan Pennsylvania Task Force and Advisory Committee on Capital Punishment has a chance to submit a report to the governor addressing the issue.
While the state Supreme Court case regarding the reprieves is still pending, Sheridan pointed out "the governor has the constitutional authority to issue temporary reprieves."
There are three other inmates awaiting the death penalty with cases out of Cumberland County. They are:
* Seifullah Abdul-Salaam,
* Mark Spotz,
* And William Housman.
Freed said all three are at different appeal stages and will likely not be up for execution soon.
http://www.pennlive.com/news/2015/12...obinson_t.html
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